DISCOVERY BAY – After seeing lengthy delays Monday on US 101 near Discovery Bay during the Washington State Department of Transportation’s chip sealing job, work hours have been adjusted for the rest of the project.
Crews are now scheduled to work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, Wednesday, Aug. 3 and Thursday, Aug. 4. The work zone is from milepost 279.5 to 281 near Old Gardiner Road in Discovery Bay.
Travelers should still plan for long delays and build extra time into their trip, and reschedule or combine discretionary travel if possible.
(Original story By Pepper Fisher)
DISCOVERY BAY –Frustrated drivers were stuck in a backup Monday caused by the road work being done this week on Highway 101 near Discovery Bay.
Delays of 90 minutes to 2 hours were consistent all day in both directions as WSDOT crews work to resurface the roadway, and more of the same is expected through Friday. However, officials have adjusted the construction time to 10 am through 4 pm. It had been from 5am to 5pm.
We reported last week that the DOT was expecting delays of up to 15 minutes during the work. They clearly didn’t anticipate the traffic volumes they’re facing, with tourism at its highest level of the year during this warm weather. On Monday at 1:30pm DOT officials sent out a new alert about the much longer delays than they expected between mileposts 277 and 281.6, between Old Gardiner Road in Discovery Bay and Gardiner Cemetery Road.
A pilot car and flaggers are leading travelers through the work zone, but even during non-construction hours after 5pm, the speed limit is reduced to 35 mph.
Travelers are encouraged to consider going early in the morning or late in the day.
Real-time traffic information is available on the WSDOT statewide travel map, the WSDOT app and WSDOT regional Twitter account.